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In Nevada at least, if you buy the tax lien you don't get clear title to the property, you just get in the position the County was in, the property would still be subject to senior liens.
TAX DEED IN CALIFORNIA
California Revenue and Tax Code Sections:
3708. On receiving the full purchase price at any sale under this chapter, the tax collector shall, without charge, execute a deed to the purchaser.
3708.1. Upon execution the tax collector shall immediately record the deed with the county recorder and pay the recording fees. Recording of the deed shall constitute delivery thereof to the grantee named in the deed.
3712. The deed conveys title to the purchaser free of all
encumbrances of any kind existing before the sale, except:
(a) Any lien for installments of taxes and special assessments,
that installments will become payable upon the secured roll after the
time of the sale.
(b) The lien for taxes or assessments or other rights of any
taxing agency that does not consent to the sale under this chapter.
(c) Liens for special assessments levied upon the property
conveyed that were, at the time of the sale under this chapter, not
included in the amount necessary to redeem the tax-defaulted
property, and, where a taxing agency that collects its own taxes has
consented to the sale under this chapter, not included in the amount
required to redeem from sale to the taxing agency.
(d) Easements constituting servitudes upon or burdens to the
property; water rights, the record title to which is held separately
from the title to the property; and restrictions of record.
(e) Unaccepted, recorded, irrevocable offers of dedication of the
property to the public or a public entity for a public purpose, and
recorded options of any taxing agency to purchase the property or any
interest therein for a public purpose.
(f) Unpaid assessments under the Improvement Bond Act of 1915
(Division 10 (commencing with Section 8500) of the Streets and
Highways
Code) that are not satisfied as a result of the sale
proceeds being applied pursuant to Chapter 1.3 (commencing with
Section 4671) of Part 8, or that are being collected through a
foreclosure action pursuant to Part 14 (commencing with Section 8830)
of Division 10 of the Streets and Highways
Code. A sale pursuant to
this chapter shall not nullify, eliminate, or reduce the amount of a
foreclosure judgment pursuant to Part 14 (commencing with Section
8830) of Division 10 of the Streets and Highways
Code.
(g) Any federal Internal Revenue Service liens that, pursuant to
provisions of federal law, are not discharged by the sale, even
though the tax collector has provided proper notice to the Internal
Revenue Service before that date.
(h) Unpaid special taxes under the Mello-Roos Community Facilities
Act of 1982 (Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 53311) of Part 1
of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government
Code) that are not
satisfied as a result of the sale proceeds being applied pursuant to
Chapter 1.3 (commencing with Section 4671) of Part 8, or that are
being collected through a foreclosure action pursuant to Section
53356.1 of the Government
Code. A sale pursuant to this chapter shall
not nullify, eliminate, or reduce the amount of a foreclosure
judgment pursuant to Section 53356.1 of the Government
Code.